Last year, ICAN's Education Committee, a subcommittee of the Board of Directors, set high-priority goals for ICAN to increase HIV Testing and Counseling and expand the agency's Probation Program. To achieve these goals, Dr. Peter Bright trained several ICAN staff members and volunteers to lead probation classes while he and other staff/volunteers tested participants. Under the Probation Program, individuals sentenced to community service earn 15 hours of community service for attending ICAN's 3-hour HIV/AIDS education seminar (for a nominal fee of $20).

When I say that ICAN saved my life, I'm not being patronizing or nice. There is no doubt in my mind that if it weren't for the caring and dedication of the people at ICAN, I wouldn't be alive today!

In 2001, I was diagnosed with cryptococcial pneumonia, my CD4 was nine and my viral load was astronomical. I was too ill to work, I had no money, no doctor, no meds, and I had no idea where to go for help. I had applied for Social Security Disability, and the stress of that battle (I call it "the Great War") had taken such a toll on me emotionally that I was placed in the Crisis Unit at Ruth Cooper Behavioral Care Center for over a week. If it weren't for my family I would have been on the streets, if not for my friends, I might have ended my life.

When I was diagnosed in 1989, I was skeptical that ICAN would be able to help me. "Great" I thought, "just what I needed, more paperwork, appointments, and bureaucratic bull, from and underfunded agency that doesn't care whether or not I lived or died. I was mentally and physically at the end of my rope and now I was going to have to "jump" through yet another set of "hoops", or use the last of the rope to hang myself.

I was wrong. Oh, there was paperwork, and appointments, and bureaucracy, but these are a constant to Persons with AIDS, like meds, taxes and death. What there was NOT were unsympathetic government drones. Imagine my immense relief when instead I found people who were wholeheartedly invested in providing the best quality service to me and others like me. ICAN's staff truly cares and does their utmost to give their clients the help and information we need.

Our case managers work with our doctors and other health care professionals, government agencies and a host of others to improve our health and the quality of our lives. While they're helping us, they are managing all the names, dates, agencies, programs, phone numbers, fax numbers, addresses, times, closing dates, medications and lab results, that are part of the daily life of the HIV/AIDS infected individual. Until you have tried to do all of this yourself, you have no idea how demoralizing and stressful it is! I tried doing do everything alone, and it almost killed me!

Beside case management, there are other terrific programs at ICAN that have enriched my life. I attend the weekly support group and they are really like my family. I outreach to the community to prevent further infections, and I volunteer with ICAN all the time. Due to the tireless efforts, heartfelt dedication, and unwavering commitment of my case manager, Jeff McQuiklin the support group facilitators, and the other ICAN case managers, staff and volunteers, I and others like me are alive today! When I say ICAN saved my life, I'm sincere!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to everyone at Island Coast AIDS Network, Inc.

The ICAN-ACT Thrift Certificate Program is a new collaborative effort designed to help local businesses and individuals who want to give back to their community. Here's how it works:  Businesses and individuals purchase gift certificates to Second ACT Thrift Store and ICAN Junction and donate the certificates to a local charity of their choice. The certificates are distributed to the charity's clients who redeem them for goods and materials. It's that easy! 

Purchases from Second ACT Thrift Store and ICAN Junction help support client programs benefiting domestic and sexual assault victims and HIV/AIDS infected and affected individuals, respectively. Second ACT offers gently used clothing, furniture, house wares and more. ICAN Junction specializes in home improvement and building materials including large appliances, plumbing fixtures, light fixtures, flooring, cabinets, doors, windows and much more. 

This program offers a winning solution for the entire community. It's an economical and effective way for businesses and individuals to support the charity of their choice during these challenging economic times. Charities help their clients access goods and materials they need in an efficient and time-saving manner and clients get more for their money by acquiring merchandise at a fraction of the retail price. 

To place your order or request additional information, please call, email, or visit one of the following locations:

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre has once again extended overwhelming generosity to ICAN by hosting the agency's 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Event. On Wednesday, April 30, over 70 of ICAN's star volunteers and guests enjoyed a complimentary reception including hors d'oeuvres and wine, dinner buffet, and the very lively Cabaret show, all courtesy of the Broadway Palm.

"We are so grateful to our friends at the Broadway Palm for enabling us to show our sincere appreciation to our volunteers, shared Terry Hall, President of ICAN's Board of Directors, "This event is just for them...a fun night to celebrate their kind work and selfless giving." 

"Susan Johnson, General Manager, and Andrea and Will Prather, Owners, have always held ICAN in their hearts," added Carolyn Moore, Executive Director of ICAN, "ICAN would not be able to carry-out its mission without our wonderful volunteers, and this is a very special way to express our gratitude."

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2006, the dollar value of volunteer work was placed at $18.77 per hour. During ICAN's latest fiscal year, the agency's volunteers logged 9,048 hours for a remarkable total of $169,831 in-kind labor.